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A painting's frame isn't always an unrelated accessory.
Its shape, size, decoration, and relationship to the image can influence how the artwork is presented.
Historical frames were sometimes designed specifically for particular paintings.
The frame could help establish where the artwork begins and ends.
It could also connect the painting visually with the architecture or interior where it was displayed.
Replacing an original frame can therefore change part of the artwork's historical presentation.
When you look at an old painting, the frame may be part of its artistic history too.
© National Gallery of Art